Coming Up For Air - George Orwell

Like most people, I had heard of George Orwell long before I had read any of his books. ‘1984’ and ‘Animal Farm' have achieved such fame that Orwell is known through them and associated with them from early age to anyone with the slightest interest in reading. So much so that it is easy to overlook the main body of his work, which, given its quality and importance (both to an understanding of the author, but also of the time in which he lived) would be a mistake. ‘Coming Up For Air’ was the last book that Orwell wrote before the second world war, and there is a pervasive, oppressive air of threat throughout the narrative that ...  Read the complete review

To whomever: Well, what to say. (That's not a question.) I've read a bit of the reviews - on this site and elsewhere - regarding "C.U.F.A." and I guess I just have to outline what *types* have missed the boat on this work of literature. The literary arts. The Types 1. the ones who analyze it politically and historically 2. the ones who are so saddened to see a sad character (George B.) 3. the ones who moralize about the main character's decisions 4. the ones who have such 'insight' - but not much inside-insight - in comparing the work to other works by the author 5. the ones ...  Read the complete review

I feel that the youth today are reading far too many fictitious books about horror or even characters that express regions of the imagination unknown to the realistic world. This is why I say George Orwell's pre-war tale Coming Up For Air is a tale that will get any literature lover back into classic literature and literature that not only entertains but also invigorates. George Orwell is undoubtedly known for the brilliant works that he did in his two most famous and well-appreciated novels, Animal Farm and 1984. The problem with these novels was that they were novels which if read by a young reader, they would not be able to capture the full ...  Read the complete review

Coming Up For Air - Orwell's description of the dangers of reminiscing for a Golden Age, a time that existed only in the mind of he who reminisces, never truly existed, and will only bring dissappointment if visited in reality. George Bowling, the protagonist, has managed, through sheer luck, to acquire £17 that no-one else knows about (a stroke of luck on an outsider in a horse race). The first part of the book is taken up by his trying to decide what to do with it - thoughts of a new dress for his wife, paying the school fees for his kids, or putting it aside for a treat are only mentioned in order to be instantly dismissed. They are only noted to tell ...  Read the complete review